Gavin Newsom, Governor of California | Official website
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed several new bills aimed at protecting access to reproductive health care in California. The legislation includes AB 260 and AB 1525, which are designed to safeguard both patients and providers from legal risks related to abortion services.
AB 260, authored by Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, allows health care providers to prescribe abortion medication anonymously. It also requires California-regulated health plans to cover mifepristone regardless of its status with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and strengthens protections for providers against criminal prosecution or other legal actions for administering medication abortion drugs.
AB 1525, introduced by the Committee on Judiciary, offers protections for attorneys who assist individuals from other states in accessing reproductive care, shielding them from discipline by the State Bar.
“California stands for a woman’s right to choose. I’m proud to sign these bills to protect access to essential health care and shield patients and health care providers in the face of amplified attacks on the fundamental right to reproductive freedom,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.
“With the Governor’s signature on AB 260, California will continue to be a national leader in protecting reproductive and privacy rights,” said Assembly Majority Leader and Legislative Women’s Caucus Chair Cecilia Aguiar-Curry. “I appreciate the partnership with the Administration as we fight for the sanctity of the patient-health professional relationship, and the safety of Californians and their health providers.”
Jodi Hicks, CEO and President of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, commented: “Today, even in California, access to abortion and reproductive health care hangs in the balance. President Trump’s Administration and Republican members of Congress continue to attack reproductive health care access on all fronts, including ongoing threats to medication abortion and already successfully defunding all 109 Planned Parenthood health centers in California. And we know they won’t stop there. As Planned Parenthood fights to keep health centers open to provide the reproductive health care so many Californians rely on, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California is grateful to the Governor for signing Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry’s bill, AB 260. This significant policy will help safeguard access to medication abortion for many Californians and protect the ability of our state’s abortion providers to continue providing this life-saving care.”
Other bills signed include Assembly Bill 45 regarding privacy of health data related to location and research, authored by Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda), as well as Assembly Bill 50 by Mia Bonta (D-Oakland), which concerns pharmacists furnishing contraceptives.
In recent years following major changes at the federal level such as the Supreme Court's Dobbs v. Jackson decision—which overturned Roe v. Wade—California has taken multiple steps intended to reinforce protections around reproductive freedom. These efforts have included expanding CalRx authority over drug purchasing during supply chain disruptions or politically motivated restrictions; allowing Arizona abortion providers temporary practice privileges after that state's near-total ban; leading multi-state coalitions such as launching the Reproductive Freedom Alliance; stockpiling medications like Misoprostol; passing Proposition 1 enshrining reproductive rights into California's constitution; launching informational resources like Abortion.CA.Gov; investing more than $200 million into reproductive healthcare; issuing executive orders protecting patient data from out-of-state legal action; joining regional partnerships with Oregon and Washington; and passing comprehensive legislative packages aimed at making California a stronghold for reproductive rights.
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